Recruiting

Walking & Tai Chi

Sponsor:

VA Office of Research and Development

Code:

NCT05701982

Conditions

COPD

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 40 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Every Step Counts-Tai Chi

Usual Care

Study Details

Brief summary:

Persons with COPD benefit from being physically active, but they are often limited by chronic musculoskeletal pain. This project will determine whether a non-pharmacologic, integrated, technology-mediated walking and Tai Chi mindfulness intervention can improve physical function in Veterans with COPD and chronic musculoskeletal pain. The proposed research addresses VA Rehabilitation R\&D Service's high priority area of improving health-related quality of life by reducing disease burden and maximizing function in Veterans with chronic disease.

Conditions

COPD

Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Study ID

NCT05701982

Start date

Jan 3, 2024

Status verified date

Jan, 2026

Completion date

Mar 31, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Sep 30, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 40 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male and female participants, aged 40 and older
  • Clinical diagnosis of COPD defined as history of cigarette consumption of > 10 pack-years, and either a ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.70 or chest computerized tomography (CT) evidence of emphysema\*
  • Numeric Rating Scale pain score > 3 for > 3 months
  • Self-reported ability to walk a minimum of one block, bend at the hip, and transfer weight from one leg to another
  • Ability to complete 800 feet walk with Fitbit Inspire-2 recording > 90% accuracy to detect steps compared to manual counts\*
  • Have access to a computer or smartphone with Internet connection or willing to come to study site to use study computers
  • Have access to videoconferencing audio and video capabilities
  • Competent to provide informed consent and willingness to make return study visits

  • Different criteria are used if baseline study visit is a virtual one.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • COPD exacerbation in the previous 1 month
  • Clinical signs of unstable cardiovascular disease (active coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, or uncontrolled hypertension)
  • Oxygen saturation < 85% recorded on baseline 4-meter walk\*
  • High fall risk (unable to perform 5 chair stand tests)
  • Inability to ambulate
  • Inability to complete questionnaires
  • Inability to collect at least 7 of 10 days of baseline step counts
  • Active substance abuse
  • Participation in a regular exercise (i.e., MOVE! or Gerofit) or Tai Chi program in the previous 3 months
  • Concurrent participation in another interventional research study
  • Receipt of hospice or end-of-life palliative care
  • Active medical intervention that would cause a meaningful increase in pain such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy

  • Different criteria are used if baseline study visit is a virtual one.

Study Design

Enrollment

136 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Every Step Counts-Tai Chi

The intervention is ESC-TC which is a web-based platform (Every Step Counts) to promote walking combined with pain management content, an online Tai Chi video library, and synchronous Tai Chi classes led by an instructor via teleconference. The intervention is delivered remotely.

active comparator: Usual Care

Usual Care

Interventions

Every Step Counts-Tai Chi

The intervention is ESC-TC which is a web-based platform (Every Step Counts) to promote walking combined with pain management content, an online Tai Chi video library, and synchronous Tai Chi classes led by an instructor via teleconference. The intervention is delivered remotely.

Usual Care

Usual Care

Primary outcome measure

  • Physical Function measured by Daily Step Counts [ Time Frame: 6 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Marilyn L Moy, MD

(857) 203-6622Marilyn.Moy@va.gov

Locations

VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA

Recruiting

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02130-4817

Contacts

Niquel Ortega

857-364-5669Niquel.Ortega@va.gov

Carole L Palumbo, PhD

(857) 364-4754Carole.Palumbo@va.gov

Principal Investigator:

Marilyn L. Moy, MD

More Information

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Last update posted

Jan 22, 2026

Last verified

Jan, 2026

Keywords

  • physical activity
  • mindful movement
  • videoconference

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by VA Office of Research and Development on 2026-01-22.